Knightmare's draft wrap: Nicholas Coffield the next 'Pendles'?

Christopher Doerre has been writing phantom drafts and draft profiles since 2009, and also has a longstanding passion for list management. He continues to develop his knowledge as he observes new trends and opportunities within the AFL Draft and recruiting landscape. He can be found at junior games most weekends through the football season, casting his eye over the next generation of AFL stars. He also spends time watching match vision, analysing stats and talking to industry sources to ensure he can offer the most insightful draft analysis.

Each week, ESPN.com.au AFL draft expert Christopher Doerre - aka Knightmare - casts his eye over the country's best junior footballers to give readers an early insight into the next generation of AFL stars.

As well as attending live games, Doerre pores through match vision, analyses the stats and talks to industry sources to ensure he can offer the most insightful draft analysis.

Aside from the weekly wrap, Doerre will also unveil his power rankings at the end of each month.

And as we get closer to November's national draft, Doerre will also predict who goes where with his annual phantom draft.

Tall flanker/midfielder Nicholas Coffield impressed with 22 disposals (18 kicks, of which 14 were effective), five contested possessions, six marks (one contested), two goals and one score assist at the weekend.

Nicholas Coffield of the Knights in action during a TAC Cup clash in July, 2016. Daniel Pockett/AFL Media/Getty Images

Most impressive from the 190cm, 83kg utility was his composure and evasiveness. In a game where there was constant congestion around the ball, Coffield was the one player who looked a class above, often possessing more time and space than everyone else. He regularly took on opponents and found a way through traffic, displaying a combination of acceleration, evasion and precise timing and anticipation to go at his own pace with ball in hand without getting caught. He also displayed clean skills and cleanness at ground level.

ESPN's AFL draft expert Christopher Doerre unveils his list of the 20 best prospects in his monthly power rankings.

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Coffield spent the majority of the match playing off a half-back flank with some minutes in the front half late when the game was there to be won. Watching the mix of attributes Coffield demonstrated, if he can improve the contested side to his game, he has the scope to become a very damaging midfielder in the Scott Pendlebury mould.

Coffield, who is in the mix to feature inside the first two rounds of this year's AFL draft, also importantly lifted in the critical moment late in the game. With Northern down by three points at the 25-minute mark of the final quarter, Coffield, in traffic, received by hand 50m from goal, accelerated to avoid getting tackled, stopped and propped from 50m and slotted through the match-winning goal.

Cunningham has built a reputation as a damaging ball user, with his decision-making under pressure and vision to find targets up the field particularly impressive. He has so far this season further developed his contested ball-winning which may see him again enter the draft mix this season.

This year's top ruck prospect Sam Hayes spent much of the match up forward, while relieving through the ruck. He proved just as effective up forward, collecting eight disposals, four marks (one contested), 18 hitouts and six goals and was vital for Eastern in a narrow win.

Jack Petruccelle, 184cm, 73kg, played a pivotal role in Northern's win. He contributed 20 disposals, 17 contested possessions, four contested marks, six tackles, five clearances, four inside 50s, one goal and one score assist. His explosiveness stood out, using acceleration with ball in hand to break the lines and also taking a couple of high marks where he attacked the ball in flight. With his athletic gifts and contested ball-winning, Petruccelle has the scope to push up draft boards and may be a first-round choice at season's end with continued improvement.

Bottom-ager Braedyn Gillard, 182cm, 75kg, is already building his resume and looking like a probable draft choice next year. He collected 23 disposals, 12 contested possessions, four marks, 10 tackles, six clearances, eight inside 50s, one goal. He generated significant drive by foot and also competed strongly around the ball.

Bottom-age ruck Bailey Williams, 198cm, 91kg, was one of the highlights. His nine disposals, five tackles and 19 hitouts may appear a mild contribution but his influence was significant. He appeared like he was going to take over the game every time he elevated, with his leap most noteworthy - he far outleapt the Northern ruckmen. In fact, it looked like he got higher than any other junior ruckman has at a ruck contest this year. While Williams doesn't yet have the hands overhead, he looked like Jeremy Howe elevating, even taking a Howe-like trademark intercept speccie.

If Williams can develop sticky hands overhead and take more marks inside the forward 50m, he could be anything.

Hunter Clark, 186cm, 79kg, was industrious at the coalface with 34 disposals, 20 contested possessions, four marks (one contested), seven tackles, 11 clearances, 10 inside 50s, one goal and one score assist. While his numbers appear impressive, his impact was less than expected, offering little run or meaningful drive by foot.

Hunter Clark of the Stingrays (L) contest the ball during a TAC Cup clash against Calder. Daniel Pockett/AFL Media/Getty Images

Dominating at stoppages, James Worpel played a pivotal role in Geelong's win with 32 disposals, 20 contested possessions, nine tackles, 11 clearances, eight inside 50s, two goals and four score assists.

James Worpel of Vic Country handballs against Vic Metro in June, 2016. (Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Top-ager Brayden Ainsworth was again prolific with 27 disposals (24 kicks) and six marks but was wasteful in front of goal with three behinds.

NEAFL

GWS Academy big man Alexander Paech, 196cm, 95kg, held his own in the NEAFL with an impressive 27 disposals and six marks. The big man has the capabilities to play either as a key forward or key defender.